Biography

Mike is the former Chair of the Firm's Executive Committee. His practice has concentrated on the representation of closely-held businesses and their owners/operators, assisting entrepreneurial and family companies in connection with financing and venture capital, technology transfer and protection issues, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, domestic and international distribution, employee issues, shareholder disputes, and succession planning for management and ownership. Mike represents both domestic companies in their international expansion and foreign companies entering the United States.

When asked to describe his favorite thing about his job, Mike responded, “In addition to the variety of issues and people I deal with daily, the job of working with business owners and operators who have a deep passion for their business is what I enjoy most.” Mike describes his client service philosophy as trying to see each issue through the eyes of the client. “This helps me empathize with them,” he says, “and develop a strategy that takes into account not just the legal issues, but also the costs, implications for their business in the long run and effect on them personally.”

Since 1993, Mike has been chosen by his peers to be listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" for corporate law. In 2002 he received the Hamilton County Community Mental Health Board's Community Friend of Mental Health Award.  In 2003, the Goering Center for Family and Privately Owned Business presented Mike with a special service award in recognition of the many roles he has played in his service to the Center. He has been included in "Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business" (Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions) since 2003, was named a “2005 Leading Lawyer” by "Cincy Business" magazine, has been recognized as an “Ohio Super Lawyer” by "Law and Politics" magazine since 2003, recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Mergers & Acquisitions Law & Corporate Law by the American Lawyer Media, recognized as one of America's Leading Lawyers for Business by Chambers USA, and based on the grading and comments of his peers, Mike is recognized with an AV Rating, the highest rating given to lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell.  Mike was also referred to as "'a business-minded problem solver' who manages a strong practice representing small businesses in corporate matters" by Chambers and Partners.

Under Mike’s leadership, the Firm joined the Center for Quality of Management in 2003, took home the Ohio Governor's Excellence in Exporting Award in 2004 and, according to "Corporate Board Member Magazine", has been named by corporate directors of publicly traded U.S. corporations as one of Cincinnati's top five law firms for the past three years.

Mike married his high school sweetheart, Linda, in 1973. (It’s likely that Linda was impressed by Mike’s lead guitar in his high school garage band, “The Misfits.”) They have since made Cincinnati their hometown with their three daughters of whom Mike and Linda are very proud having, according to Mike, grown into “responsible and independent young women.”

Law School

J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1977

Education

A.B., magna cum laude, Kenyon College, 1973, Phi Beta Kappa
M.B.A., Colgate Darden School of Business Administration of the University of Virginia, 1977

Bar Admissions

State of Ohio

Affiliations

Current Affiliations
American Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Cincinnati Bar Association
United Way of Greater Cincinnati Vision Council Leadership Team
United Way of Greater Cincinnati Healthy People Vision Council- Chairman
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Government Affairs Council
Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Partnership for Greater Cincinnati Oversight Committee
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Patient Care Committee, Capital Committee- Chair
Cincinnati Nature Center Board of Trustees, Executive Committee- Vice President
University of Cincinnati Goering Center for Family Business Next Generation Institute
Association for Corporate Growth
Greater Cincinnati Venture Association
Greater Cincinnati Venture Fund
Kenyon College Alumni Association
Leadership Cincinnati Alumni Association
Anderson Hills United Methodist Church (Usher, Staff Parish Relations Committee)
Queen City Club
Bankers Club (Board of Governors- Chairman Emeritus)
Commonwealth Club

Past Affiliations

Greater Cincinnati: Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustees 1995; Chamber Institute for Small Enterprise- Chairman 1992-1996; Foreign Investment Attraction Team 1999-2001

Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. Trustee, 1977-84; Volunteer, Treasurer, Vice-President, President (1981-83)

Chamber Institute for Small Enterprise (CISE), Steering Committee of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, 1992-96; Chairman, 1994-95

Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation (WCET-TV), 1988-94: Chairman Emeritus, 1994; Chairman of the Board, 1992-94; Secretary, 1990-92; Chairman, Administrative Committee 1991-92; Chairman, 1991-92 Business Partners Campaign; Personnel Subcommittee 1986-91

Hamilton County Community Mental Health Board, 1987-1995: Chairperson, 1991-93; Vice-chairman, 1990-91; Chairperson Finance Committee, 1989-91; Co-chairperson Mental Health Board Levy Committee, 1990; Mental Health System Review Committee, 1993-95

LADD (Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc.), Director, 1985-91: Treasurer and Chairman, Finance and Investment Committee 1987-91; Board of Advisors, 1991-96

Maple Knoll (Southwestern Ohio Seniors' Services, Inc.), Director, 1984-93: Chairman 1988-91; Vice Chairman 1987-88; Recipient, Rock of Aging Award 1995

Wesley Hall, a home for the indigent aged, Trustee, 1980-91: Executive Committee; Chairman, Finance and Personnel Committees

Hamilton County Republican Party, Executive Committee

Mental Health Works, Inc., Trustee

Republican Finance Committee of Hamilton County, Executive Committee- Chairman